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15 Sep 2008
A plant extract could offer pain relief to people suffering from mild knee arthritis, a new study by staff from the University of Munster in Germany has suggested.
Derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, has been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in studies carried out in labs.
It was found that participants who took the extract - which is marketed under the name Pycnogenol - for three months reported an improvement in their level of pain, with those who received a placebo showing no improvement.
News provider Reuters noted the findings suggest these actions could translate into pain relief for people in the early stages of osteoarthritis, the symptoms of which include stiffness, joint soreness and swelling.
"Our study doesn't show evidence for this, but I do speculate that Pycnogenol has a more lasting effect on the joints, further to mere pain management," senior author Dr Peter Rohdewald told the organisation.
Click here to visit the Arthritis Quick Guide
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